On Jan. 16, ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors) applauded Norwegian Cruise Line’s (NCL) elimination of non-commissionable fees, or NCFs, at an online industry town hall.
The cruise brand permanently removed NCFs as of Dec. 26, 2025, for all new bookings on sailings leaving on or after May 1, 2026. The move means higher earnings for travel advisors, as the full cruise fare (excluding taxes and fees) is now commissionable, extending to the line’s Free at Sea Plus package.
The town hall was hosted by Michael Schottey, vice president of membership, marketing and communications for ASTA; and John Chernesky, senior vice president of sales North America for Norwegian Cruise Line. During the webinar, Chernesky shed light on all that can be expected from this policy change — including that some final details are still being worked out. However, as it stands now, 99% of bookings qualify for no NCFs, according to Chernesky.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s decision reflects a growing recognition of the value advisors bring to the distribution ecosystem and the need for compensation models that are straightforward and equitable.
Schottey reported that this move is “something ASTA has been working on for awhile,” as part of the organization’s goal to ensure that agents get paid fairly and on time.
Chernesky stressed that the policy change aims to eliminate a pain point for advisors and to ultimately give them their full value of the amount booked. The executive has shared that Norwegian wants to “become the easiest cruise line to work with,” and saying goodbye to NCFs is a step in that direction.
And this is only the start for NCL, Chernesky said. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the brand’s “Partners First” ethos, and the executive has other supportive plans in the works. Chernesky promised that cruise prices will not be raised in order to cover the investment it will take to remove NCFs, and that more seminars at sea are on their way, allowing partners to experience the product firsthand. As a result, he hopes advisor “confidence goes sky high.”
Schottey concluded the webinar by wondering if NCL’s move might start a trend.
"We’ll see what happens across the industry,” Chernesky said.
It stands to reason that NCL corporate cousins Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises may follow suit.
In the meantime, ASTA stands behind its official statement of praise for Norwegian.
"Non-commissionable fares have been one of the most persistent and opaque challenges facing travel advisors,” said Zane Kerby, president and CEO of ASTA. “Norwegian Cruise Line’s decision reflects a growing recognition of the value advisors bring to the distribution ecosystem and the need for compensation models that are straightforward and equitable. This is the kind of leadership that moves the industry forward, and ASTA is proud to help unify voices calling for meaningful change.”
